As early as when Jiajing mentioned the topic of salt merchants before, Yan Song on the side was keenly aware of the information contained in it.

"Your Majesty, this is trying to clean up this group of salt merchants!"

Previously, His Majesty was angry, but now, Yan Song is even more eager to show himself to the emperor.

"Well, Yan Ge Lao is right, the root of the rise of this group of salt merchants is the law of opening the middle that the imperial court has always implemented."

Jiajing nodded, and affirmed what Yan Song had just said.

"At the beginning of the implementation of the Kaizhong Law, it did play a certain role, helping the imperial court save expenses while also ensuring the supply of materials in remote areas."

"Especially the soldiers guarding the frontier, the materials they need have also been guaranteed!"

After a pause, Jiajing continued to add.

"But right now, the law that has been implemented all along has become a malpractice, to the point where it must be changed!"

"Before this, I have already sent someone to investigate, and the prices in the border area are still high! The reason is that these caravans, who were responsible for transporting supplies, sent a large amount of silver taels. ”

"And in the border areas, there is no shortage of silver taels, what they lack is physical goods! As a result, many of the soldiers guarding the frontier complained bitterly. ”

"In addition, now that the salt policy is lax, many officials have colluded with this group of salt merchants to traffic in illicit salt!"

"The profits obtained in it, the court did not share the slightest profit from it, and in the long run, it will definitely cause turmoil!"

"I've finished speaking, do you have any thoughts on this?"

After Jiajing finished speaking, he glanced at the ministers present, and then asked.

"Your Majesty is so clear about the situation in front of you, not only that, but also clearly pointed out the drawbacks, Your Majesty is really wise and unfathomable!"

At the moment, that's what everyone here thinks.

After a while, I saw Yan Song stand up and ask Jiajing.

"Your Majesty, since it is no longer suitable for the Kaizhong Law to continue to be implemented, then Weichen proposes to officially abolish it!"

"At the same time, the implementation of the salt and iron monopoly system, the abolition of salt import, and the sale of salt, such a fruitful industry, will be managed by the state!"

"In addition, the salt administration will be reorganized, and an evaluation system will be implemented for these officials, and those who fail to achieve the set goals will be punished from fines to dismissal!"

Before Yan Song's proposal was finished, Xu Jie, who was on the side, stood up and retorted.

"Your Majesty, Yan Ge is so bad!"

"Leaving salt to the state to manage is clearly competing with the people for profit!"

"His Majesty Taizu ...... at the beginning"

Before Xu Jie's words were finished, he was coldly interrupted by Yan Song.

"What does it mean to compete with the people? This group of salt merchants made a lot of money, but in the end, they didn't see much benefit, and it fell on the common people! ”

"Elder Xu Ge, don't forget, Your Majesty just grabbed 50 million taels of silver from the salt merchant!"

"This is 50 million taels of silver, more than the taxes paid by my Ming Dynasty in the past year!"

"Elder Xu Ge, I have just started up, and you are so eagerly opposed to this matter, have you accepted the benefits of this group of salt merchants?"

After Yan Song finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Xu Jie and asked in a deep voice.

And Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair, was also quite surprised to see Yan Song standing on his side so clearly, and said secretly in his heart.

"I've just started, you just said everything I want to say next, well done, Yan Song!"

"I'm here to cheer you on."

After hearing Yan Song's reprimand, Xu Jie's face was also pale, and he was angry, but Xu Jie couldn't find any suitable words to refute Yan Song.

Because I did receive the benefits of those salt merchants!

After a long time, Xu Jie only held back four words: "Unreasonable!" ”

After Xu Jie, Gao Gong turned to stand up and asked his question.

"Your Majesty, if all the salt sales industry is transferred to the state, then it means that the salt introduction system will be abolished!"

"So, what should be done to ensure the supply of materials in remote areas?"

After listening to Gao Gong's words, everyone also fell into deep thought.

"Yes, if the transportation of materials is carried out by the government, then the supply of materials in remote areas will not be well guaranteed."

"After all, the cost of sending a team of people to ensure the transportation of materials in remote areas is too high!"

After listening to the question raised by Gao Gong, Jiajing also fell into thought, and his fingers tapped the table table rhythmically.

After a long time, as if he had figured out something, Jiajing's eyes gradually became bright.

"I just came up with an idea, you might as well think about it for me, if there is any loophole in this."

Seeing that the emperor had come up with a solution, everyone present held their breath and concentrated their spirits, for fear of missing a word.

Jiajing said slowly after looking around.

"When the imperial court implemented the law of opening the middle, it was to give salt to these caravans as a reward."

"And these caravans will take the salt they get and sell it in designated places, so as to obtain a considerable fortune!"

"And in this process, the salt guide plays the role of silver two, so I am thinking about replacing this salt guide with something else."

After listening to Jiajing's words, everyone was a little confused, and kept muttering: "Change it to something else?" ”

Zhang Juzheng on the side also fell into contemplation, and after a long time, I saw that his whole person was radiant and confident.

"Your Majesty means to use the sea certificate issued by the Maritime Trade Department as a substitute for salt introduction?"

Seeing that Zhang Juzheng understood what he meant, Jiajing nodded and spoke.

"That's right, that's what I meant."

"But Your Majesty, at present, there are only thirty sea permits issued by the Department of Maritime Trade, and no more can be added!"

Gao Gong on the side immediately stood up and admonished Jiajing.

"Who told you that I was going to give them a complete passport to sea?"

Jiajing glanced at Gao Gong and continued.

"I intend to replace the salt with the sea certificate issued by the Department of Maritime Trade, and when these caravans complete the task of transporting materials assigned by the imperial court, they will receive one-fiftieth of the sea certificate."

"Only after completing fifty missions can you apply from the Maritime Trade Division and get a complete certificate to go to sea!"

"After all, the industries that are involved in maritime trade are all huge profits!"

Jiajing's words, without a doubt, gave a huge shock to everyone present.

What they didn't expect was that they could still do this!

The certificate of going to sea of the Department of Maritime Trade, in the final analysis, is just a worthless piece of paper, but it is endorsed by the imperial court, so a certificate of going to sea can be sold for a high price of 200,000 taels of silver!

And now, His Majesty divides a certificate of going to sea into fifty parts, and then drives these caravans to fight for it.

After all, only by getting together a complete certificate to go to sea can you make a lot of money.

"What do you think of my idea?"

After Jiajing finished speaking, he immediately turned his gaze to everyone and asked for their opinions.

"Your Majesty...... Your Majesty, please forgive Weichen for saying bluntly, this method is wonderful! ”

"Not only can the profiteering industry of salt be re-absorbed by the state, but also the supply of materials in remote areas can be guaranteed, which is really a double win!"

As soon as Jiajing's words fell, Yan Song stood up and complimented.

"Yes, Your Majesty, this method is very wonderful!"

After Yan Song, Xu Jie also stood up after him, with a respectful look on his face, and said complimentally.

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

The rest of the people glanced at each other and then followed.

"The method is good, but it depends on how well you implement it."

After Jiajing finished speaking, he turned his gaze to everyone, meaning something.

"Your Majesty, don't worry, the ministers will definitely work hard and implement this matter meticulously!"

When everyone saw this, their expressions were awe-inspiring, and they immediately said in unison.

"By the way, at the auction held in the future, we must try to raise the price of the sea voucher as high as possible, not less than 200,000 taels!"

"In this way, it is more convincing to replace the salt introduction with a certificate of going to sea, isn't it?"

Jiajing seemed to suddenly remember, and then added.

"Obey your orders!"

Seeing that the emperor had already spoken, everyone present hurriedly responded respectfully.

"Also, in view of the situation that prices are quite high in the border areas, we should come up with a definite solution as soon as possible!"

"It's really not possible, it's okay for the imperial court to come forward and transport the corresponding materials specifically for these soldiers guarding the frontier."

"Yes, Your Majesty, your ministers obey!"

(End of chapter)